This beautiful baby is one of 15 Betta Channoides that I’ve just received.

Native to Indonesia and related to the common Splendens, unlike their long-finned brotheren famous (and often exploited) for it’s ability to survive in small pools of still water, the Channoides’ habitat is the Mahakam River in Kalimantan Timur, where bubblenests are unworkable and mouth-brooding is the alternative method of raising fry.

These critters are far removed from their tropical habitat – their birthplace being cold suburban Melbourne. Hopefully some of these fry will grow up to be strong spawners.